Business Administration
Business Administration Programs at Fisher College
The Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration is an excellent option for students who wish to explore a career in business but are not ready to commit to a 4 year program. This degree provides foundation knowledge in the major functional areas of business along with current and marketable administrative skills. The focus of this program is to prepare students for entry level positions in the business world or further study.
For students with an interest in bookkeeping and accounting, we offer an Accounting concentration. This concentration allows students to take two additional classes in accounting that provide them with the entry level skills for bookkeeping or accounting clerk positions. This is also an excellent background for entry into a four year management or accounting program.
Students who complete the Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration at Fisher College can transfer at any time into the Bachelor of Science in Management program, provided they achieve the required GPA. The programs are designed to fit together perfectly so that every course taken for the associate's degree is applicable to the bachelor's degree.
| First Year | Credit hours | |
|---|---|---|
| CM105 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| CS101 | Computer Concepts and Applications | 3 |
| EC101 | Macroeconomics | 3 |
| EC102 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| EN101 | English I | 3 |
| EN102 | English II | 3 |
| MA106 | Elementary Algebra* | 3 |
| PS101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Math/Science Elective | 3/4 | |
| Total Credits | 30/31 | |
| Second Year | Credit hours | |
| AC121 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| AC122 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| CS108 | Advanced Computer Applications | 3 |
| FI201 | Principles of Business Finance | 3 |
| LA204 | Business Law | 3 |
| MG201 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| MG202 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MK201 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
| *A higher level of math (MA 107, MA 109, MA 110 or MA 121) may be substituted. Minimum credits required for graduation--60. |
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Graduate Competencies
Graduates of the Associate of Science degree in Business Administration will have foundation knowledge in all major areas of an organization:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Business Law
- Human Resources Management
- Marketing
Students who earn the Associate of Science degree in Business Administration will gain marketable computer skills using the Microsoft Office Suite products. These skills combined with general knowledge of the functions of business will allow them to pursue job opportunities in any type of for profit or non-profit organization or continue their education.
These business skills are complimented by a general education program that includes writing skills, public speaking, psychology, math and science courses to develop the whole student.
Potential Careers and Earnings
Administrative Assistants and Coordinators take on many responsibilities previously reserved for managers. These include preparation of presentations, spreadsheets, event planning and report writing. They often plan and coordinate meetings, collect and distribute information, update web sites, conduct research and manage projects. The options and opportunities are as varied as the list of for profit and non-profit businesses within the area of job pursuit.
Administrative jobs as described above are expected to grow at a rate of 9% over the period from 2006-2016*
Median salary for Administrative Assistants in May 2006 was $37,240.* Entry level positions for students with an Associate degree in Business Administration in the Boston area could expect to earn between $22,000 and $30,000** depending on the job and the industry. Higher levels of education typically draw higher salary levels.
Donna Brady
Donna Brady is a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice accounting in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy at Northeastern University, where she graduated with honors. Additionally she holds two masters degrees, one in taxation from Bentley University and one in Applied Management from Lesley University. She has over 20 years teaching experience, which includes adjunct teaching positions at Bentley University, Suffolk University and Western New England College. For the past 10 years she has taught Accounting and Tax courses at Fisher College. Donna has been working in the field of accounting for over 35 years. Her experience ranges from starting as a Bookkeeper at a small high tech company to becoming a Supervisor at the international accounting firm, Coopers and Lybrand (now Price Waterhouse Coopers).
"In 1988 after working in industry for many years, I made the decision to establish an Accounting firm. While I was trying to build a client base, I decided to teach on a part time basis. I immediately fell in love with teaching and the students that I taught. It was a wonderful combination of practicing in a profession that I truly enjoyed and being able to introduce the subject of accounting and taxation to students. Because I have been a practitioner for a number of years, my approach to teaching is hands-on. I believe that students benefit from hearing about real life situations. Since the day that I started, I have loved teaching accounting at Fisher College. Over the years, I have had students from all over the United States and the World. I have come to know most of them on a personal level and have learned about their culture and background. Also, I have met a number of students that have the same background as me. In fact many of them graduated from the same high school that I did, Cambridge High and Latin (now Cambridge Rindge and Latin)".
Janet Kuser
Janet Kuser is the Chair of the Division of Management and Public Service. She earned an MBA from Suffolk University and spent over 20 years in the corporate world. She has experience in diverse industries and organizations. Prior to joining Fisher College she was the Vice President, Customer Relationship Management at Starwood Hotels and Resorts. She teaches various courses within the business curriculum and specifically oversees Management Internships and Senior Projects.
"Prior to joining the faculty at Fisher College I experienced many aspects of business first hand. I spent several years in a small business and many others in a Fortune 500 corporation. I lived through hostile takeover attempts, many "reorganizations" and several mergers and acquisitions. My career began as a customer service representative at a company that made approximately $12 million per year. At the other end of the spectrum I was a Vice President for a multi-billion dollar hospitality leader, Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Throughout my career I held various training and management positions which collectively prepared me for this second career. Teaching at Fisher College is something that I love and feel honored to do. I am able to use my business and training backgrounds to educate students in the fundamentals of business and management, with emphasis on practical and marketable skills."
Neil Trotta
Professor Neil Trotta teaches the following courses in the Division of Management and Public Service: Marketing, Operations Management, Human Resource Management, Strategic Management and Senior Project. Mr. Trotta earned his MBA from Western New England College and spent over 10 years in the healthcare staffing industry in the areas of sales, marketing and sales management. Neil spent the bulk of his time as the Director of National Accounts selling to "C" level executives at major healthcare systems across the United States.
"My aspiration to share my knowledge came while I was working in the corporate world. I had an opportunity to look back at my education and decided I could provide a hands on and practitioners approach to teaching. For over a decade I have had the pleasure of teaching both traditional students and the adult learners where I use real-world and personal experiences to enhance the learning process."